One of the most populated of Hong Kong’s 18 districts, the Eastern District is a bustling enclave of museums, shopping centres and temples. It also hosts tourist trails running through historic neighbourhoods, fish markets and shipyards that illuminate the region’s roots as a small fishing village.

Things to do

Overlooking Lei Yue Mun Channel, the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence sits within a former fort built in the 1800s. Exhibits tell stories of defending the Hong Kong coastline from the Ming dynasty through both Opium Wars and the Battle of Hong Kong. You’ll find an actual castle inside the museum and various weapons and military vehicles.

Shop along the Eastern District Tourist Trail in the Shau Kei Wan section of the Eastern District, which houses a variety of modern retailers. A great way to understand the area’s past is by following the Eastern District Tourist Trail, as it winds through the streets and to the waterfront, passing the A Kung Ngam Shipyards.

A real treat is wandering through Shau Kei Wan Wholesale Fish Market to see the daily hustle and bustle of life. Temples in the district welcome worshipers of sea deities, such as Tam Kung, Tin Hau and Yuk Wong. You can visit the temples on Shau Kei Wan Main Street East.

Shopping in Hong Kong is generally a high-end experience with sparkling modern arcades, but the Eastern District also has shopping areas positioned beneath housing centres. You’ll find some good deals as well as Chinese restaurants and art galleries inside SoHo East and Hing Tung Shopping Centres.

Getting around

Kai Tak Airport area sits opposite the Eastern District, providing convenient rental car pickups. Trams, MTT metro buses, mini-buses and taxis make it easy to get around.